USD career fair doubles attendance from 2013
In a flurry of handshakes and shuffling of resumes, more than 400 University of South Dakota students attended the university’s Career and Graduate School Fair Oct. 23 in the Muenster University Center.
The turnout was a significant change from past years, with twice as many students in attendance as in 2013, said Kasandra Girard, employer relations and internship coordinator for the Academic and Career Planning Center.
“At least two or three employers who have been here before said they couldn’t believe how many students showed up,” Girard said. “I don’t think we advertised any differently, but it could be a matter of students realizing how much they have to network to get a job.”
The career fair comes at a time when job prospects are beginning to turn around for college graduates. An October report released by USA Today indicated nearly 600 occupations are expected to see a 5 percent or more growth in jobs by 2017.
USD’s event included 54 employers, ranging from representatives of the U.S. State Department to Daktronics, a regionally-based business that designs and manufactures computer-programmable display systems.
USD graduate James Stapleton was among potential employers as a representative for ConAgra Foods, an Omaha-based food packaging company. This is the first year the business has recruited at USD, which Stapleton said is an advantage for students to come into the business with a fresh perspective.
Stapleton said he consistently had students stop at his booth, and while personable, he said he would advise more students to hand out resumes.
“We may have a really great conversation, but I may have had multiple really great conversations over the course of four hours,” Stapleton said. “I don’t know if students were shy, or didn’t have resumes on them, but if I have that piece of paper, I know exactly how to get back in contact with you.”
[notification type=”grey” title=”Top 5 tips from employers at USD’s career fair:”]1) Bring and hand out resumes. 2) Ask questions. 3) Appear interested, even if you aren’t. 4) Have an open mind about what your major/minor can apply to in the workforce. 5) Overdress rather than underdress.[/notification]
Resume building has been a major focus for the university’s Academic and Career Planning Center, Girard said. She regularly runs Resumania in the MUC, which may include resume critiques, scheduling of mock interviews and taking a professional photo for social media profiles.
Junior Lanning Norberg was able to hand out his resume during the career fair. He said the most difficult part was pitching his experience in only one minute to potential employers, one of which included ConAgra.
“I keep telling myself that I’m doing this right, but it is hard to gauge their first impressions of you,” he said.
Ed Yuhas of Affiliated Food Midwest said enthusiasm from students is what catches his eye as an employer. He also said students should be the ones asking questions, not the other way around.
“First impressions are significant. If I don’t think you have a genuine interest, I’m probably not going to remember your name when I think about internships or job openings,” Yuhas said.
Students are also taking advantage of department career fairs. First-year Heath Nimke went to his first event Monday for the Media & Journalism department, and said his biggest challenge was being friendly but direct.
“I kept getting a certain look when I’d introduce myself as a freshman, like there was a kind of disinterest,” Nimke said. “But I had some really good conversations because I found something to relate to the person across the table from me.”
(Photo: First-year Heath Nimke is interviewed by Simon Fuller, the general sales manager for Classic Hits 106.3 and ESPN Radio 1570, and Brandy Hartman, an on-air DJ for the station. Malachi Petersen / The Volante)
